Forum: Oklahomatidbits.com General Forum (go)
Moderators:  /  David Smith Jr

I got into this discussion with a few people the other night and just curious what your responses are.

Not counting any of the big shows/special races, just running at your local track every week....Does your winnings at your local track cover the cost of the car & the maintenance to keep it running on weekly basis? If not, then how long does it take you to make up your losses?

Christina
Air Max HVAC Systems

can a fan comment on this one?

I'd just say. take a champ sprint feature at lawton or sfs. 60 bucks to start. take a guy who doesn't have the funds to compete with the top 4 or 5 in that class or may not have as much skill either. combo of both we'll say - well these drivers are still CRUCIAL to the show. in fact - as much or even more so than the top 5. prob equal really. but if it is a couple hundred bucks on fuel to get to the track. another bill on race fuel (or more i dunno). another few hundred for a fresh tire or 2. and then add some other things you may need - shocks, and other intricate parts, and even smaller stuff like tear-offs and stuff. you're easily looking at 1,000 dollars before you hit the track. and thats if you don't have any major things to fix or improvements you are trying to make.

I'm just a fan - so I prob have a brighter opinion to this than most car owners. there are a lot of expenses I am not aware of. for a sport that gets highly affected by oil prices - its a really bad future with how much everything else costs - especially to be competitive. the blue collar racer is almost gone - especially in sprints. you just have to have a bangload of money to even get out there. I find it just as remarkable and more so for the guys who are 6-20 in points. most of the attention or fan base is to drivers in the top 5 or so in points (in any class) and nothin against those - I like them too. fans tend to root and cheer for the driver that makes the electrifying moves to win a race on the last lap and stuff - and root against those who are fast but take people out. while the guys who run mid-pack or less are kind of ignored. as I;ve gotten older and a lil bit wiser (just a lil bit lol) - I appreciate those drivers more and more every week. without them it would be like the SFS factory stock class.

well anyhow the case in point I'm gettin at - is that its bad enough how those who aren;t upfront every week get over looked by many the average fan ------- but its worse that the promoter overlooks them too. both by such a weak and outdates purse and by not giving them the same exposure as others. CASE IN POINT. the vast majority of the crowd would rather a different class brought out to the front straight every week and all their drivers introduced and given the chance to mention their sponsors and you know - get some recognition and attention ------ instead we get this winners only every week BULLSHIT! now - I;m all for honoring the winners - but bring a full class out each week - and then have those who won in the last few weeks before that night get mentioned as such.

this is just one more thing that in the end - helps to keep the money up front. for all the time they spend BS'ing with the 3 or 4 winners the previous week - you could bring a full class of 20 drivers out and do it ASCS-style. and let all have some airtime and then the previous weeks winner get a lil bit more mention and bring their cars out. this could rotate every 4 weeks I guess. whenever you bring the factory guys out - you may as well bring another class out too. actually I think they could do all the stock car guys 1 week - and all the sprint car guys the next - and do it like that. however they did it - they gotta stop giving just the winners the recognition - and let everyone else get to mention their sponsors SO THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE A CHANCE AT SOME MORE SPONSORS TOO!

How much would could a wouldchuck chuck if a 
wouldchuck could chuck would

I have no sponsors and do it all out of my own pocket and try torace two nights a week as much as I can here is a little breakdown of what I spend every week

Fri ---

Racing fuel --60

pit passes ---75

tearoffs------25

beverages and food -50

oil change and basic maintenence --100

around 300 dollars a week to run at state fair speedway average winnings 100 bucks

Saturday ---

Fuel for tow vehicle -----100

racing fuel ---------------60

tearoffs ------------------25

beverages and food ------50

pit passes ----------------75

yet again about 300 bucks but I win more money out of town

oh yah dont forget to throw in what all you tear up during the week like tires and wheels shocks ect.....

Local racing is not a very sound and profitable investment but I cant think of anything else I would rather be doin !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

winners dont cry when they lose , they go back to the 
drawing board and come back for round 2 !

Not with the micro-sprints.You might recover some of your losses over about a 2-3 week span,if and only if nothing else breaks.It is difficult to make it from one week to another without having to buy something other than methanol for the car.3 motors in 2 weeks isnt cool,that is enough within itself to say goodbye to hopes for a near break even season.It really depends on how much a team has God and luck on their side.Racing is ultra,high velocity expensive.No matter what though there are some of us stupid enough to keep at it,thinking its worth it.

Steve Moyer CKS Fabrication & Welding                  
CKS Chassis                                            
I want my last words to be "damn this is fun"

col insight there shawn, sorry for my Sacks shriveling the sausage - I almost thought you took it perosnal there for a bit. it was all in great fun tho --- u shoulda been there it was a seesaw battle that was crazy. i was disppointed you wasn;t there so I could finally introduce myself. ah well - when will race sfs again? this friday the 4th? did you run lawton last night?

How much would could a wouldchuck chuck if a 
wouldchuck could chuck would

Smoman you must not pay the expenses on the micro thing cause your not gonna break even on shit in micros around here if you buy lets say 2 pit passes $40 plus entry for car $10 per class some guys run 2 fuel getting to race track lets say $50 if your in the city fuel for car $35 one tire $108 food and drinks easily $50. Now lets say you win $175 max depending what they feel like paying that night that means you pay $128 for the week. Keep in mind i didnt add in the expenses for maintenance on the cars for the week parts oil brake clean hell even shop rags. So i would say your wrong on the micros so if you ever pay the expense you will figure it out.

A decent 2bbl Sprint roller used -$7,500.

A competetive motor -$8,500.

All the bare essentials you need to race including trailer and saftey equipment (used) -$7,000.

Total investment-$23,000 in used not brand new.

Weekly upkeep including minor crashes and tires for 20 races-$5,000.

20 races @ $500.00 to win = $10,000.

Realistic winnings per race-$150.00 x 20 = $3,000.

Net loss of $25,000 after year one.

If a person could win as much as they spent after the initial expense that would be unheard of for local racing. Your off season costs are almost, if not the same amount, as race season costs.

nonwing48 fyi I have been into these micros for 10 years.I sponcer,help,built,crew-chief,part owner of the # 51 nonwing car.I am building three more for next season ( 2 of those are sold ).I know first hand how much it cost to run one,Experience an average of top 5 then my post was right.5-out is doughnut.

Steve Moyer CKS Fabrication & Welding                  
CKS Chassis                                            
I want my last words to be "damn this is fun"

Keep telling yourself that smoman i just disagree with that although you do build a quality racecar.

Mo money, you dog bite right! Bobcat did you ever get that Chevy engine yet?lol

Steve Moyer CKS Fabrication & Welding                  
CKS Chassis                                            
I want my last words to be "damn this is fun"

Thanks. I thought it would be a good one for everybody to discuss.

I know mods & sprints aren't cheap to get into, then add the maintenance on top of it....just amazes me at how many racers we do actually have who can keep going out week after week.

Christina
Air Max HVAC Systems

yes same thing here too all funds come out of pocket for me also and i do have some who has been taking care of the paint and decals on the car any help is a big help to me too but i will not break it down to all the sprint pep they know what i mean

who you building cars for smoman

Cody Carter - nonwing,David ? turftire,Bob Springer who knows what class he'll wind up in,Me multi,with some luck multi in Tulsa and Missouri.

Steve Moyer CKS Fabrication & Welding                  
CKS Chassis                                            
I want my last words to be "damn this is fun"

Thats cool good luck with your business you really do build a really good safe racecar.

Steve can build some good race cars. Its the crew he builds them for that you have to watch out for haha.